A: Those who wish to conduct
a physical therapy evaluation in Wisconsin , regardless of where the
evaluation occurs, must have a valid Wisconsin physical therapy license
in order to do so.
Q:
May a Wisconsin licensed physical therapist perform needle EMG?
A:
A Wisconsin licensed physical therapist may perform a needle EMG (electromyogram),
provided that he or she has the appropriate education, training, and
experience to perform it.
Q:
May a licensed physical therapy assistant perform joint mobilization
and muscle energy techniques under the direct supervision of a licensed
physical therapist?
A:
As long as a licensed physical therapy assistant has been properly educated
and trained to do joint mobilization and muscle energy techniques, he
or she may perform them under the direct supervision of a licensed physical
therapist.
Q:
How many physical therapy assistants may practice under the general
supervision of a physical therapist?
A: No, physical therapist may at any
time supervise more than two (2) physical therapist assistants (full-time
equivalents) practicing under general supervision. In addition, the
total number of physical therapy assistants, unlicensed personnel, and
those who have temporary licenses may not exceed a combined total of
four (4) under supervision by a licensed physical therapist.
Q:
What are the continuing education requirements for physical therapy
assistants?
A:
Physical therapist assistants are required to complete at least
20 contact hours of approved continuing education during each biennial
(2 year) registration period. The 20 required contact hours must be
Board approved continuing education activities as described in the administrative
code listing table PT 9.04 . In addition, at least 4 contact hours
of the 20 must be in ethics and jurisprudence.
Q: Do
continuing education hours need to include both ethics and jurisprudence
topics in order to qualify for credit under PT 9.04 (2) (c) of the Wisconsin
Statutes and Administrative Code?
A: As a practical matter, these
subjects tend to go hand-in-hand as it is difficult to parse the ethical
requirements from the legal ones. Consequently, most continuing education
programs typically combine the two areas. However, it is theoretically
possible to have distinctive courses on each subject and to add the
course hours together for a total of four.
